Daimler Truck confirms Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck production planned from end of 2026
Following the development and successful testing programme with prototypes of its first-generation fuel cell trucks, Daimler Truck is pressing forward with the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck.
The fuel cell truck represents another development milestone for Daimler Truck on the path to sustainable transportation powered by hydrogen. In a small-series production run at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth, 100 units of these further developed semi-trailer tractors will be manufactured and deployed with various customers from the end of 2026 onwards.
Achim Puchert, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said: “In addition to battery-electric solutions, hydrogen-based drives are crucial for the sustainable transformation of our industry.
“With the NextGenH2 Truck, we are taking the next technological step in fuel cell trucks. Together with our customers, we aim to introduce the small series with high range and near production-ready technology into daily transport operations from the end of 2026.”
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The engineering team retained the proven strengths of the first-generation Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck in the development of the new model. Liquid hydrogen enables ranges well over 1,000 km on a single tank filling at full load. The proven cellcentric BZA150 fuel cell converts hydrogen into electrical energy on board.
Key upgrades include proven series components from the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, such as the latest generation of the integrated e-axle, the aerodynamically optimised ProCabin, the modern Multimedia Cockpit Interactive 2, and cutting-edge safety and assistance systems based on the current E/E architecture. Like its predecessor, the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck is particularly suited for highly flexible and demanding long-haul applications.
The BZA150 fuel cell from cellcentric — a joint venture between Daimler Truck and Volvo Group — remains the heart of the NextGenH2 Truck’s drive system. Two fuel cell units operate as a twin system with a total system output of 300 kW (150 kW each) and are space-savingly integrated in the engine compartment beneath the cab.
Over years of intensive testing, the hydrogen-powered drive concept has impressed with its reliability and efficiency under real-world conditions. In early customer trials with the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, hydrogen consumption, for example, averaged between 5.6 kg/100 km and 8 kg/100 km, with gross combined vehicle weights ranging between 16 and 34 tonnes.
In operation, the fuel cell generates electrical energy through the reaction between hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). Together with a buffer battery, this powers the electric motors integrated into the e-axle, delivering strong propulsion. The only emission from this process is pure water vapor.
The NextGenH2 Truck offers a high-level driving experience, on par with its battery-electric counterpart, the eActros 600. Dynamic power delivery thanks to instantly available high torque, smooth and comfortable handling, and low in-cabin and exterior noise are well-known advantages that the fuel cell truck, as an electrically powered vehicle using hydrogen as its energy source, can fully exploit. Even in demanding driving situations such as steep gradients or high payloads, the truck delivers up to 340 kW in Economy Mode and up to 370 kW in Power Mode.
At the heart of the energy storage system is a high-voltage battery developed by Daimler Truck with an installed capacity of 101 kWh [2]. This lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery serves as a buffer for the fuel cell and stores energy during recuperation. The NextGenH2 Truck uses the same efficient in-house-developed electric drive axle as used in the eActros 600, with a 4-speed transmission (including two reverse gears) for optimal power delivery at all times.
Customer trials of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck provided valuable feedback for Daimler Truck’s development team, directly influencing improvements in the NextGenH2 Truck and further increasing customer benefit.
Last year, Daimler Truck tested prototypes of the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck under extreme conditions in the Swiss Alps — both during winter and summer trials — ensuring reliability under demanding operational scenarios. Insights gained from these tests are being incorporated directly into further development.
The development, production, and practical deployment of the NextGenH2 Trucks scheduled from the end of 2026 is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) and the federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg with a total €226 million. Series production of fuel cell trucks is targeted for the early 2030s.
[1] Nominal capacity of a new battery, based on internally defined parameters.
For more information, visit www.daimlertruck.com.